On Thursday, December 10, 2020, International Scientific and Practical Online Conference “World Heritage Sites: Sustainable Development Practices for Urban Heritage” was held on the Zoom platform, with the coordinating role of the GDIP Media Center.

The event is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the inscription of the World Heritage Site “Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” on UNESCO World Heritage List. The co-organizers are the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, and the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. The conference was held under the auspices of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO.

The architectural ensemble of Saint-Sophia Cathedral and the monastery complex of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra became a World Heritage Site on December 12, 1990. This confirms the outstanding universal value of a cultural object that must be preserved for the benefit of all mankind. World Heritage Site No. 527 “Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ukraine.

The online conference was opened with welcoming speeches by Jyoti Hosagrahar, Deputy Director for the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO; Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Chair of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO; Svitlana Fomenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine for European Integration; Oleksandr Rudnyk, Acting Director-General of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve; and Nelia Kukovalska, Director-General of the National Sanctuary “Sophia of Kyiv”. A congratulatory letter from Oleksandr Nykoriak, Director of Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at the Kyiv City State Administration, was also read out.

After the opening ceremony, the participants of the online conference moved on to the plenary sessions covering the following thematic areas: Historic Urban Environment; Prosperity and Sustainable Livelihoods; Knowledge and Skills; Inclusion and Participation. Based on presentations of urban World Heritage Sites of Florence, Bordeaux, Naples, Bamberg, Trogir and Mtskheta, the experts discussed the major challenges and opportunities for urban heritage all around the world, its contribution to sustainable development, and prospects for strengthening the capacity of the Sites' managers in building up more prosperous, resilient and peaceful cities.

During the online conference, national and international experts exchanged scientific knowledge and practical experience. Other results include raising the awareness of World Heritage Sites' managers in Europe, their teams and networks about the role of culture and cultural heritage in achieving sustainable development, and identifying barriers to realizing the full potential of cultural contribution to economic, social and environmental sustainability.

The Zoom event was joined by urban heritage sites’ officers from European and Eastern Partnership countries, representatives of national and local authorities, non-governmental and public organizations, as well as international experts.

The conference brought together participants from 12 countries. On Friday, December 11, 2020, the event will continue with a workshop for Ukrainian experts.